Sketches of Life

For a long time I've done different documentations of my life. Whether by making a family scrapbook, through writing in a journal, art journaling (in which oftentimes the words get out on the page (and then painted over); and more recently I've taken up my sketchbook to document the ordinary things. I love all of these outlets of creativity!

As I wrote in my last entry, one of my challenges was feeling that I couldn't draw. To that end, I'd taken a six-week life drawing course at a local school…but didn't really feel it translated to real life. I mean, who has hours and hours to sketch the same subject, in the same pose, same lighting, etc? Not realistic!

I had purchased a couple of books over the years from author and artist, Danny Gregory. Here is a link to his books on Amazon.com if you'd like to take a look. They all strike a chord, but the one that really started it all for me was, 'Everyday Matters'. It's about seeing the beauty in the every day things. Documenting your life. Noticing the details.

Since reading all these books, I was fortunate enough to start following his blog; and last Summer I discovered that he was leading a course just a few hours away for a weekend of sketching. I didn't have a lot of ready cash, but the setup was such that you could choose a variety of accomodation. I brought a little tent and camped! Yes, me.

So worth it…

And so when I saw that there was another opportunity to take a workshop with Danny Gregory; albeit online this time…I saved up for it. Take a look at Sketchbook Skool. It just started last weekend and already I'm loving it. You can jump in now if you want!

My first 'assignment' was to sketch this little shoe.

As you may have seen on my blog or Facebook page, my 'little blondie' was recently injured at a school activity. It was pretty bad. She's healing. It's going to take some time. And I'm greatful that it's just an ankle we're talking about. It could have been so much worse! But this little right shoe has seen better days. When last worn, it had to be cut off by the paramedics. I assured Courtney that all it needed was new laces. Not unlike her; it would be back riding a bicycle and playing kick the can this Summer.

So I was inspired to sketch the little shoe and document its current state.

It was a cathartic exercise. Courtney likes the drawing too. It's time to get some new laces for the little right shoe. I can't wait until it can go on the little right foot again.

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About Sally Lynn MacDonald

Sally Lynn often mixes her love of creating and teaching art with her high-tech side – blending a love of handmade art with hybrid-digital media in what she playfully calls her ‘studio lab’. Every now and then her large-format printer is subjected to printing on a surface that definitely is not listed in the owners’ manual.

She is a maven for studio organization, using her abilities to use spreadsheets and databases to bring order from chaos. “It’s marvelous when the right and left brain actually work together in the studio!” Read More…